SPEECH BY SIR J. WARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7189, 6 January 1902, Page 3

SPEECH BY SIR J. WARD.

(Per Press Association.)

Otautau, January i. At the invitation of the Farmers' Union, Sir Joseph Ward addressed a public meeting at Otautau this evening. The Town Hall was packed to the doors and S/r Joseph was received with loud cheering. Mr A. Gupples / chairman of ike local branch of the union, presided. S;r Joseph said that no former Government- had <ione so much for the farmers as the present fine. As .**> expenditure, lie pointed out that'tho ten oijllions borrowed since the present Government came into power had been expended wisely and for the benefit of tho colony and in such a way as not to in crczs<? taxation. The clamour for expenditure was general all over the colony. Increased facilities and improvements were asked for in every direction. Tho money borrowed under the Lands for Settlement Act was Cor the use of farmers, and 'n§ Jcmo would like to see that done away with. Ifo country which had done anything at all for jts 1 people had been able to work upon the amount raised by taxation from the people. Eor eyery penny spenjt on public works in the colony they had splendid" assets. Tho reductions and concessions to fam'ers j alone lamounted to £2-18,000 per yoar. They ulso had the benefits from reduced railway fares, penny postage and tho ■ seryices of Government gyaders- and veterinary surgeons. Sir Joseph said he welapmed the formation of tho Farmers' Union, and said ihp farmers had a perfect right to cdjnI bine jtq. project their interests and have I their jegitim^p requirements attended to. Tiio union could dp much good an! he refused *0 .beliero that any man by joining the union would, sacrifice his own political beliefs. Keferring to the fall in the price of wool, ho said that if lie was a wool grower, ho would hold on to it; and the market would soon right i!self, He attributed the slump to t!ie production and us«j pf shoddy article-, the falling ofl iv rents, tho speculations of French and .German buy.crs, linancfal complications, and .t!ie ■ introduction p^ machinery into America to use up old clothes,and reproducelhpnj jn tlie shape of cheap clothing. If they held on to their wool, buyers would soon come for it. Every effort was being made.to obtain fresh markets, and large sum; had been set aside to foster traclu with South Africa. Tho Fcdeial tariff afi'cc ed them to some extent, Jjwt they would easily find an outlet for the produce which formerly went to Australia, and in any ease they were in a tat better position than if they had sacrificed their independence by pursuing the somewhat Visionary advantages to Jjo gained by joining the: Commonwealth*.' H° eneoiinigcd them to face the reverse hop "] fully, ami the same indomitable spirit wJii.jti had characterised tlie people in the'"-j)!ist would enable there to surmount, the'present dilliculty. -Kefen'ing to the Workers' Compensation A et, Sir Joseph said that no Act which the Government had passed hud been more misrepresented this one, and yet there was no Act which should coiniuend jtsplf more to; farmers. The

Act was the English Act introduced by the Salisbury Government, which certainly could not be accused of any Radical Icudcncies. The position was quite clear. Under liio common law the ttirmcr was liable to bo sued for compensation for mjurios for any amount up to £500. Now by paying 5s per year on every .010;) of wages p-jiil. he could cover his risk from' any source whatever. Ue was under no compulsion to int-.im.' undir the ■ Worker*' Compensation Aer, but surely it was better to ply a nominal premium of 5s per .£IOO than run the risk of being sued for a very largo amount for comp-msa tion for any accident whieli might happen.

The Hon. W. C. Walker sni.l he was pleased lo he present and to have an opportunity of showing his sympathy with the Farmers' Union in its efforts to secure the advantage of co-operatiou. With regard to the question of further borrowing, the test was. was the intended expenditure necessary, and wns it likely to be warranted by results ? The people of the colony demanded that their children should have the advantages of cducation ( ,and every 3 ear the requirements of the Boards were increasingly heavy. ft was only with the greatest dilliculty that' the demands could be met. There was a continual desire to give tho children further adyantages. As settlement progressed, there was a demand for additional schools. These could not be provided without money, and that money should be found even if it, had to bo borrowed. Mr N. A.McLaren moved a vote of thanks to Sir Joseph Ward, but Mr J{. Heritt moved as an amendment that a vote of confidence be added, and the amendment was carried,